Carole Neilson of San Francisco creates ceramic vessels that are heavily influenced by her French ancestry.

Carole Neilson of San Francisco creates ceramic vessels that are heavily influenced by her French ancestry.

Photo: Makers Market

At Makers Market, artisans' tales go with their sales

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For Suzy Ekman, the launch last week of Makers Market ( www.makersmarket.us) was 15 years in the making - the last eight months of which were spent honing her concept for an online marketplace specializing in not only the designs, but also the narratives, of artisans.

Growing up in the South, the Alabama native recalls that "roadside stands with independent makers" dotted the landscape. "I was intrigued by the makers and their stories. I loved hearing about how they learned their trade, which was often something that was passed down from generation to generation."

Ekman, an East Bay resident, established Makers Market with about 30 Northern California creators. Most of the wares are fabricated from wood, metal, textiles or clay.

It was a conversation with wood turner Jerry Kermode at last fall's Sausalito Art Festival that jump-started Ekman's vision for the business. "It was my 'aha' moment, as to how I wanted Makers Market to look, sound and feel - like you are meeting an incredibly talented craftsman in their workshop and connecting with them one on one," she explains.

Hence, the site includes interviews, photographs and videos that provide a closer look at the individuals behind the products, as well as their creative process.

Kermode embodies the principles on which Ekman's venture is based: His wooden bowls are an example of American craftsmanship that is timeless, well designed and durable - yet also fresh and relevant. He is passionate about his work, has a compelling background (he and his wife both contribute to the finished pieces), and is committed to furthering his métier (every month, he opens his studio for a weekend to train the next generation of wood turners).

Makers with a sustainable approach (Kermode works with discarded stumps and logs) or who are associated with nonprofits (such as the Crucible in Oakland, which offers a place to learn and hone art skills) are also preferred by Ekman and her team.

"Crafts are an important part of any society's culture," she says. "It's important for us to do whatever we can to keep makers practicing their trade."